Truett McConnell University has announced that it has parted ways with now-former President Dr. Emir Caner.
The private Christian school located in White County made the announcement on social media Friday morning following a press conference at its Cleveland campus. Caner was placed on administrative leave in June after a meeting by the university’s Board of Trustees regarding allegations made by a former student, Hayle Swinson, that Caner had not acted on reports that former Vice President of the school, Brad Reynolds, had sexually assaulted her.
Following that June 6 announcement, the university added that it would launch a third-party investigation into the allegations. The findings of that investigation were presented to the Board of Trustees this week.
“Following the presentation of the independent investigative findings of Richard Hyde to the Truett McConnell University Board of Trustees on Thursday, September 25th, the board has decided to part ways with Dr. Emir Caner,” the release from the university Friday morning said.
No other details on the findings of that investigation were released.
In the aftermath of Caner being placed on leave, the board appointed Dr. John O. Yarbrough as Acting President. In the university’s statement on Friday, it confirmed that Yarbrough as now been named Interim President, with the board planning to appoint a committee to begin the search for a new president.
“The Board of Trustees would like to thank Dr. Caner’s 17 years of service to Truett McConnell University,” the statement said.
Caner had posted a video to social media in the immediate aftermath of his being placed on leave in June. In that statement, he denied covering up the alleged assaults by Reynolds.
“It grieves me to see that one of our own, one of our family, has been hurt in this way. My family and I hurt for Hayle Swinson,” Caner said. “While there was no cover-up, there was no Title IX filed or an HR complaint, there was no petition that ever came across my desk, we have to do better.”
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